Topic of the practice

urban freight policies

Good Practice Information

The project is about the rental of electric vehicles, designed to ensure a sustainable logistics for the pick up and delivery of goods in the urban centre of Reggio Emilia. It was designed to limit own-account transport made by retailers and artisans. The main players involved by TIL (Trasporti Integrati e Logistica S.r.l.) are the Chamber of Commerce and the Local Trader Association. TIL found also a sponsor ZAPI S.p.A. (company leader in control cards of all kinds of electrical machines, including vehicles). Thanks to its economic contribution, paid off by the graphic sponsorship of the vehicles and consequent return publicity, resulting from 30 vehicles circulating daily in the city, a shop keeper could benefit from a lower rental fee, resulting in cost savings. TIL coordinates the stakeholders of the project and manages the collaboration with traders and craftsmen, in order to ensure the success of the project. Resources: Purchase of electric cars, Installation of charging points. The 65% of the total cost of electric cars was
paid by the State, 35% by TIL. HR: 2 people in 2002, 9 people now (1 buyer, 2 project and marketing managers, 6 mechanics). Total costs: 670,356€ (20% VAT excluded) for buying 30 electric vehicles. Economically, the "Ariamia" project is a success. Rental Fee is 250.00€ for month. At the start the actual cost was higher, but the Chamber of Commerce ensured a reduction of € 41.66 per month per vehicle for the first 24 months; Zapi SpA granted €62.50 per month, and T.I.L. € 104.15 per month per vehicle for the first 24 months. Now the price is the same (without incentives) because TIL has a very big fleet of 650 vehicles rented around IT, and can ask a better price to the electric cars producer. The objective is to develop the Ariamia project further (30 more cars) and to try and reduce rental costs. Critical success factors: Service reliability, Low rental Price, After-rental service. The project is transferable to other contexts, but it requires the involvement of many players and funding for start-up.

Evidence of success

The project was thought for the city goods distribution, but now the big part of the rental is done outside of the Municipality and for private transports of people (which is outside of the Ariamia project).
Now the project is self financed without any intervention of outside public capital, because traders/craftsmen, paying the monthly fee provide financial support, providing a gain to T.I.L. that allows the purchase of new electric vehicles and the development of its service network.
Environmental results obtained from Dec 11 2003 to 31 Dec. 2008 (net of emissions from power plants)
Total electric vehicles: 30 total Km travelled: 1,931,850, CO2 reduction: 193,185 kg, CO reduction: 7,032 kg, NOx reduction: 405 kg, PM10 saving: 107 kg, Fuel saving: 160,988 litres, Noise reduction: more than 90% (in front of a traditional "gasoline" vehicle).

The Interreg Europe programme follows on from INTERREG IVC for the 2014-2020 period. Check out the new Interreg Europe website and plug into our revised and expanded services. Join the community today!

The first call for proposals closed on 31 July 2015. Now you can have a look at some statistics about the call and submitted project proposals. In the meantime, we are working on the assessment of the proposed projects. Follow our website and social media for further updates.